Adjustable Bangle Bracelet

ABSTRACT

A single-section, rolled band bangle bracelet configuration in which a squeezing force via the thumb of a wearer&#39;s hand on one end of the band and via a finger of a hand on the opposite end serves to receive, grasp, and thereafter release the bracelet in connection with its wearing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to rigid bracelets worn on the wrist, in general, and to bangle bracelets made from metal to complement a desired style, color, plating and memorialization, in particular.

Description of the Related Art

As will be appreciated, most bangles or bangle bracelets are in the form of a continuous or substantially continuous loop having at least two releasably coupled, rigid arcuate sections that can be selectively opened to permit the person wearing it to place the bangle on or remove it from the wrist. As will also be appreciated, two manners exist to open or close these bracelets—1) a hinge at one intersection of the rigid arcuate sections permits the bangle to be selectively moved from an open position to a closed position, and vice versa, with a closing or locking mechanism typically provided at the opposing intersection of the rigid arcuate sections to releasably retain the bangle in closed position about the wrist of the person wearing it; and 2) a dimensioning of the two arcuate sections to allow one to slide and fit into the other to be clasped thereby, or to be released therefrom.

Several of the first hinge mechanism closure types, however, are more cumbersome than others in permitting the closing or locking mechanism to be operated with one hand—frequently requiring the assistance of a helper so to do. (This typically results when an older or aged person is trying to join or separate the rigid sections together or apart, for example). While the second type of closure is more easily one to complete the task, on the one hand it provides less of a secure clasp when closed—but on the other hand, is generally sized so that while it may be a comfortable fit for an adult to wear the bracelet, it becomes too large to be worn by a young child. This is often of concern where the bangle bracelet is passed down over time from a parent or grandparent to an offspring to wear.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved bangle bracelet that provides an ease for removal, as well as an ease for adjusting its securement about a wrist for its wearing.

It is an object of the present invention, also, to provide such an improved bangle bracelet that can be removed from or emplaced about the wrist using preferably only two digits of the hand, the thumb and either the second or third finger.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a convenient locking arrangement for a rigid bangle bracelet of a type to be not only adjustable, but flexible and of a construction to accept various types of color plating depending upon user preference; and

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide this type of improved bangle bracelet to accept memorialization of a variety of types of alphanumeric characters in the nature of wordings and quotes in contrasting enamels to effectuate not only an adjustable, flexible bracelet, but one which can truly be referred to as a “memory bracelet”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bangle bracelet comprises a substantially rounded loop of a single-section rolled band configuration. Specifically, the band when unrolled comprises a flexible, resilient metal having a post extending downwardly from an underside of the band adjacent a first end of the band; and two or more linearly spaced keyholes at an adjacent, second opposite end of the band. In accordance with the invention, each keyhole is sized to receive and grasp the post when inserted thereinto.

Preferably constructed from a molded fabrication process, the band is characterized by a flexible, resilient metalization in affording a releasability of the post from a keyhole by an applied squeeze force via the thumb of a wearer's hand on the first end of the band, and via a finger of the hand on the second, opposite end of the band. In accommodating this, each keyhole extends from the underside of the flexible, resilient metal band through to a topside thereof—with the keyhole having a narrower portion facing toward the second, opposite end of the band than a wider portion facing toward the first end of the band.

In alternative constructions, the band may be composed of a flexible, resilient sterling silver, or a flexible, resilient brass. In the latter instance, the flexible resilient brass is overlain by one of a rose-gold plating, a yellow-gold plating, and a rhodium plating—modifiable where desired by etching with an alphanumeric characterization to provide appropriate memorialization in making the band one of memory. With three linearly spaced keyholes to receive and grasp the post, a bangle bracelet can be constructed of a width substantially 4/3 times its height, with a thickness of 4 mm-7 mm, so that the bracelet can be adjusted, for an adult wearing or for that of a younger individual. In either event, the construction of the bracelet allow for it to be easily adjusted in wearing to a comfortable feel by a simple grasp and release action by means of the thumb and the second or third finger of the wearer's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate two depictions of a preferred embodiment of the bangle bracelet of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a top view of the one-hand, adjustable bangle bracelet construction in accordance with a preferred embodiment of;

FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate two views of the bangle bracelet, one showing an alphanumeric type of memorial characterization along with the keyhole configurations for receiving the post employed in grasping the band of the bracelet in position; and

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c respectively illustrate a top view, a bottom view, and a side view of the band when unrolled for an understanding of the construction of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The band of the bangle bracelet 10 is shown as 12 in the views of FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c when unrolled, before being closed into the position shown for wearing in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 3a and 3 b. The band 12, constructed from a molded fabrication process, includes a post 14 extending downwardly from an underside 16 of the band (FIGS. 4b, 4c ), and two or more keyholes 18 sized to receive and grasp the post 14 when inserted into it. Three such keyholes 18 are shown in FIGS. 1b, 4a and 4 b, with the post 14 inserted into one of the keyholes as shown in FIGS. 1a and 3 b, where preferably three keyholes are provided for size adjustment in the wearing of the bracelet 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b , 3 a, 3 b, 4 a and 4 b, each keyhole extends from a topside 20 of the band 12 through the band to its underside, 16. FIG. 3b additionally shows an alphanumeric memorial characterization 22 that can be etched into the topside 20 of the band 12.

In preferred embodiments, the band 12 is composed of a flexible, resilient sterling silver, a flexible, resilient brass, or a flexible, resilient brass overlain by one of a rose-gold plating, a yellow-gold plating, and a rhodium plating. As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b , the thickness 24 of the band can be selected of any desired size—such as 4 mm-7 mm. To allow an adjustment in the size of its wearing, the keyholes 18 are of a shape having a narrower portion 26 facing one end of the band (28) than a wider portion 30 facing towards a second, opposite end of the band (32). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the wider portion 30 of the keyhole is sized to receive the post 14 of the band when inserted therein by the applied squeezing force between the thumb of the wearer's hand on the end 32 and a finger of the hand on the end 28. The flexibility of the band then effectively slides the post 14 back toward the narrower portion 26 of the keyhole when the squeezing force is released, where the post 14 is grasped in securement.

In such respect, FIG. 3a illustrates the post 14 being secured in a second keyhole of the linearly spaced keyholes, while in FIG. 3b , the post 14 is grasped in the first keyhole of the three illustrated. In FIGS. 1a and 1b , in like manner, the post 14 is grasped in the first keyhole of the three as well, to present the overall top view of the bracelet as that depicted in FIG. 2. There, the width of the band 12 “W” when worn (in accordance with one fabrication of the invention) may be selected to be some 4/3 times the height “H” of the band 12. Pressing upon the band with the thumb of the wearer's hand on the end 32 of the band while applying a like force with the second or third finger on the end 28 would effectively relocate the post 14 into the second, or third keyhole of the band, as the case may be.

An easy and convenient manner of adjusting the size of the bangle bracelet, and then releasing it from being worn is thus easily effected, by the adjustability feature of the invention.

While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefor, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A bangle bracelet forming a substantially rounded loop of a single-section rolled band configuration, the band when unrolled comprising a flexible, resilient metal having a post extending downwardly from an underside of the band adjacent a first end of the band, and two or more linearly spaced keyholes at an adjacent, second opposite end of the band with each keyhole being sized to receive and grasp the post when inserted thereinto.
 2. The bangle bracelet of claim 1 wherein the band is constructed from a molded fabrication process.
 3. The bangle bracelet of claim 2 wherein the band is characterized by a flexible, resilient metalization in affording releasability of the post from a keyhole by a one-handed applied squeezing force via the thumb of a wearer's hand on the first end of the band and via a finger of the hand on the second, opposite end of the band.
 4. The bangle bracelet of claim 3 wherein each keyhole extends from the underside of the flexible, resilient metal band through to a top side thereof, the keyhole having a narrower portion facing toward said second, opposite end of the band than a wider portion facing toward said first end of the band.
 5. The bangle bracelet of claim 4 wherein the band of flexible, resilient metal includes three linearly spaced keyholes to receive and grasp the post insertable thereinto.
 6. The bangle bracelet of claim 4 wherein the band is composed of a flexible, resilient sterling silver.
 7. The bangle bracelet of claim 4 wherein the band is composed of a flexible, resilient brass.
 8. The bangle bracelet of claim 4 wherein the band is composed of a flexible, resilient brass overlain by one of a rose-gold plating, a yellow-gold plating, and a rhodium plating.
 9. The bangle bracelet of claim 4 wherein a top side of the band is etched with alphanumeric characters of memorialization.
 10. The bangle bracelet of claim 4 wherein the band when rolled is of a width substantially 4/3 times its height.
 11. The bangle bracelet of claim 10 wherein the band when rolled is of a 64 mm outer width and a 48 mm inner height.
 12. The bangle bracelet of claim 10 wherein the band of flexible, resilient metal is of a 4 mm-7 mm thickness. 